2005–2008: Year of the Dog...Again and The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter[edit]
DMX signed to Columbia Records in January 2006. He recorded his next album, Year of the Dog...Again, while switching record labels, which caused numerous delays.[7] It was finally released on August 1, 2006, and missed the number one Billboard spot by only a few hundred copies.[8] He released two more singles, "Lord Give Me A Sign" and "We In Here"

On June 12, 2008, Def Jam released a compilation of his greatest hits, The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter.[3] Def Jam released another compilation album, The Best of DMX, in 2011.[9][10] which features hit singles including "Where the Hood At?" and "X Gon' Give It to Ya".

2003–2004: Grand Champ[edit]
His fifth album, Grand Champ, once again debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 charts, placing DMX as the only musical artist in history to release five consecutive albums (his entire album catalog at the time) that debuted at number one. Singles include "Where Tha Hood At" and "Get it on the Floor". After its release, he informed the public that he planned to retire, and that Grand Champ would be his final album.[6]

2001–2002: The Great Depression[edit]
After improving his legal situation (see section "Legal Issues"), DMX returned to the studio to complete his fourth album, The Great Depression. Released October 23, 2001, it was his fourth album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, featuring the singles "Who We Be", "We Right Here", and "Shorty Was The Bomb". Despite the album's triple Platinum certification, its commercial and critical success was lower than his previous album.[3]

1999–2000: ...And Then There Was X[edit]
DMX released his third and best-selling album ...And Then There Was X, on December 21, 1999. It was his third album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. Its most popular single, "Party Up", became his first Top Ten hit on the R&B charts. Singles "What's My Name?" and "What These ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Want" were also popular.[citation needed] The album was certified six-times Platinum.[

Later that year in December, DMX released his second album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, where it remained for three consecutive weeks. Within one week of the album's release, 670,000 units were shipped.[citation needed] It was eventually certified Platinum four times. As a result, DMX was the first rapper in history to have released two number one [3] albums in the same year, both of which debuted on Billboard 200.[3]

1996–1998: It's Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood[edit]
In February 1998, DMX released his debut major-label single, "Get at Me Dog", on Def Jam Recordings. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA. His first major-label album, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, which included the single "Ruff Ryders Anthem", was released in May 1998. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S and sold over five million copies.